Dr. Vaida Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė

ORCiD iD: 0000-0002-1607-0551
Tel. +370 610 24 204
E-mail: vaida.seziene@lammc.lt
Liepų St. 1, Girionys, LT-53101 Kaunas distr., Lithuania

Education

2009–2015 PhD of Biochemical Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University jointly with Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry.

2006–2008 Master of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Specialization in Forest Ecology, Lithuanian Agricultural University (now Aleksandras Stulginskis University).

2001–2005 Bachelor of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Lithuanian Agricultural University.

Academic degrees and pedagogical titles

2015 Doctoral dissertation “Allelopathic impact of dominant species of Pinetum-Vacciniosum clear-cuts on Scots pine seedlings growth under climate change conditions”. Biomedical Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Science (03B). 

Research fields

• The studies of forest phytocoenoses, forest vegetation assessments
• Metabolic processes in plants
• Climate changes

Professional experience

Since 2023 Chief Researcher, Laboratory of Forest Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

Since 2019 Head of Laboratory of Forest Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

2019–2022 Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Forest Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

2017–2019 Researcher, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

2015–2017 Junior Researcher, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

2009–2012 Junior Researcher, Institute of Forestry, LAMMC

2011 Lector-scientific Supervisor, Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences

2006–2008 National Project Coordinator, Lithuanian Green Movement

Memberships and affiliations with professional organizations

• Lithuanian Union of Foresters.
• The Committee of Experts on GMOs.

In-service training

• 20 June – 19 August, 2016 the traineeship in Forest Reasearch Institute in Poland (Instytut Badawczy Lesnictwa, Laboratorium Chemii Środowiska Przyrodniczego). It was carried out laboratory studies, scientific literature review, methodology development, to achieve the objectives of the project „The possibility of utilisation non-wood forest products (NWFPs) as a source of antioxidants in beneficial for health supplements“.

Involvement in programmes and projects

• 2022–2022 Research Counsil of Lithuania project “Optimization of Pinus sylvestris L. growth and induced systemic resistance ex vitro using jasminic acid”, leader.
• 2022–2025 HORIZON EUROPE project “A Holistic Approach to Sustainable, Digital EU Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Rural Development based on Reconfigurable Aerial Enablers and Edge Artificial Intelligence-on-Demand Systems” (CHAMELEON), leader of LAMMC part.
• 2022–2024 Nordic Forest Research (SNS) “PROTECT: Effects of defense priming on Norway spruce needle microbiome and pest resistance”, leader of LAMMC part.
• 2021–2023 Research Study “Evaluation of the effectiveness of different bacterial preparations in promoting the formation of systemic antipathogenic resistance in Lithuanian coniferous tree species“. Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, leader.
• 2021–2025 Horizon2020 project “A holistic fire management ecosystem for prevention, detection and restoration of environmental disasters” (TREEADS), leader of LAMMC part.
• 2021–2024 Research Study “Increasing the overall resistance of Lithuania main forest tree species to pathogens by the innovative combination of genetic and physical methods”. Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, leader.
• 2021–2022 EU Research project under Dotation agreement with Research Counsil of Lithuanina “Investigation of the influence of the biopolymer chitosan on the early development of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and the formation of antipathogenic resistance”, leader.
• 2020–2022 EU investment project “Experiment” with Innovative company “MKDS” “Development of an innovative biological preparation for ecologically sustainable protection of agrobiological resources and increase of productivity”, leader.
• 2020–2022 Research Study “Study of possibility to use aspen symbiotic bacteria for biological control of tree-damaging pathogenic fungi” Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.
• 2019 Research project under Dotation agreement with Research Counsil of Lithuania “The effect of innovative physical methods to changes in exposition of secondary metabolites and photosynthetic pigments in different Picea abies half-sib families”, leader.
• 2017–2019 Research Study No. VPS-2017-146-SBMŪRP “The selection of Scots pine genotypes resistant to rot root”, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.
• 2016 Research Study “Investigation of carbon stock values in dead wood to varying degrees of decomposition, establishment of national norms for the valuation of carbon stocks in fallen wood and determination of stock values”, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.
• 2014–2016 Research Project “Improvement of Forest Fire Risk Prediction System”, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.
• 2010–2011 National Research Project “The vulnerability of local tree species and their populations, habitat change and forecasts under changing climate”, Lithuanian Research Council.
• 2008–2009 Research project “The impact of environmental factors on the reproductive characteristics of Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst.”, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.
• 2007–2009 Research Project “Assessment of climate change impact on forest ecosystems”, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.

Supervision and co-supervision of PhD projects

• 2021–2025 PhD student Greta Striganavičiūtė “Assessment of the suitability of Betulaceae and Salicaceae family trees for the environmental protection against persistent organic pollutants, using innovative biotechnological tools”.
• 2020–2024 PhD student Ieva Lučinskaitė “Increasing the overall resistance of Lithuania main forest tree species to pathogens by the innovative combination of genetic and physical methods”.
• 2018–2022 PhD student Dorotėja Vaitiekūnaitė “Identification of endophytic microorganisms in cultures of genetically different (Quercus robur) long-lived oak tissues and analysis of their interaction”.

Awards

• 2010 Scholarship and prize of the State Studies Foundation.

MAJOR RESEARCH OUTPUTS

Articles in journals indexed in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database

1. Beniušytė E., Čėsnienė I., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Vaitiekūnaitė D. 2023. Genotype-dependent jasmonic acid effect on Pinus sylvestris growth and induced systemic resistance indicators. Plants, 12 (2): 255. IF – 4,658
2. Jurkšienė G., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Juškauskaitė A., Baliuckas V. 2023. Identification of Alnus incana (L.) Moenx. × Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. hybrids using metabolic compounds as chemotaxonomic markers. Forests, 14 (1): 150.IF – 3,282
3. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Čėsnienė I., Leleikaitė G., Baliuckas V., Vaitiekūnaitė D. 2023. Phenolic and antioxidant compound accumulation of Quercus robur bark diverges based on tree genotype, phenology and extraction method. Life, 13 (3): 710. IF – 3,253
4. Vaitiekūnaitė D., Striganavičiūtė G., Beniušytė E., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Augustauskaitė M. 2023. Putative biocontrol agents for European forest pathogens found in English oak (Quercus robur L.) endosphere. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 110 (1): 79–86. IF – 1,281
5. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Lučinskaitė I., Mildažienė V., Ivankov A., Koga K., Shiratani M., Laužikė K., Baliuckas V. 2022. Changes in content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity induced in needles of different half-sib families of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) by seed treatment with cold plasma. Antioxidants, 11 (8): 1558. IF – 7,675
6. Vaitiekūnaitė D., Striganavičiūtė G., Mishcherikova V., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V. 2022. Populus tremula × P. alba microshoot secondary metabolism response after Paenibacillus sp. inoculation in vitro. Forests, 13 (10): 1702.  IF – 3,282
7. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Laužikė K., Uselis N., Samuolienė G. 2022. Metabolic response of Malus domestica Borkh cv. rubin apple to canopy training treatments in intensive orchards. Horticulturae, 8: 300. IF – 2,923
8. Striganavičiūtė G., Žiauka J., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Vaitiekūnaitė D. 2021. Priming of resistance-related phenolics: A study of plant-associated bacteria and Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Microorganisms, 9 (12): 2504. IF – 4,926
9. Striganavičiūtė G., Žiauka J., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Vaitiekūnaitė D. 2021. Impact of plant-associated bacteria on the in vitro growth and pathogenic resistance against Phellinus tremulae of different aspen (Populus) genotypes. Microorganisms 2021, 9 (9): 1901. IF – 4,926
10. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Marčiulynas A., Baliuckas V. 2021. Effect of extracts from dominant forest floor species of clear-cuts on the regeneration and initial growth of Pinus sylvestris L. with respect to climate change. Plants, 10 (5): 916. IF – 4,658

11. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Mildažienė V., Žemaitis P., Ivankov A., Koga K., Shiratani M., Baliuckas V. 2021. Long-term response of Norway spruce to seed treatment with cold plasma: Dependence of the effects on the genotype. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 18 (1): 2000159. IF – 3,877

12. Lučinskaitė I., Laužikė K., Žiauka J., Baliuckas V., Čėsna V., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V. 2021. Assessment of biologically active compounds, organic acids and antioxidant activity in needle extracts of different Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) half-sib families. Wood Science and Technology, 55: 1221–1235. IF – 2,898
13. Stakėnas V., Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė I., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Armolaitis K., Araminienė V., Muraškienė M., Žemaitis P. 2020. Dead wood carbon density for the main tree species in the Lithuanian hemiboreal forest. European Journal of Forest Research, 139: 1045–1055. IF – 2,617
14. Marčiulynas A., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Žemaitis P., Jansons Ā., Baliuckas V. 2020. Resistance of Scots pine half-sib families to Heterobasidion annosum in progeny field trials. Silva Fennica, 54 (4): 10276. IF – 1,819
15. Laužikė K., Sirgėdaitė-Šėžienė V., Uselis N., Samuolienė G. 2020. The impact of stress caused by light penetration and agrotechnological tools on photosynthetic behavior of apple trees. Scientific Reports, 10: 9177. IF – 4,379
16. Marčiulynas A., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Žemaitis P., Baliuckas V. 2019. The resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) half-sib families to Heterobasidion annosum. Forests, 10 (3): 287. IF – 2,221
17. Sirgedaite-Šežiene V., Baležentiene L., Varnagiryte-Kabašinskiene I., Stakenas V., Baliuckas V. 2019. Allelopathic effects of dominant ground vegetation species on initial growth of Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings in response to different temperature scenarios. iForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry, 12: 132–140. IF – 1,683
18. Dróżdż P., Šėžienė V., Wójcik J., Pyrzyńska K. 2018. Evaluation of bioactive compounds, minerals and antioxidant activity of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) fruits. Molecules, 23 (1): 53. IF – 3,060
19. Dróżdż P., Šėžienė V., Pyrzynska K. 2018. Mineral composition of wild and cultivated blueberries. Biological Trace Element Research, 181 (1): 173–177. IF – 2,431
20. Dróżdż P., Šėžienė V., Pyrzynska K. 2017. Phytochemical properties and antioxidant activities of extracts from wild blueberries and lingonberries. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 72 (4): 360–364. IF – 2,465
21. Šežiene V., Baležentiene L., Maruška A. 2017. Identification and allelochemical activity of phenolic compounds in extracts from the dominant plant species established in clear-cuts of Scots pine stands. iForest-Biogeosciences and Forestry, 10: 309–314. IF – 1,246
22. Baležentienė L., Šėžienė V. 2010. Biochemical impact of dominant extracts of Scots pine cuttings on germination. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 19 (1): 35–42. IF – 0,543

Other peer-reviewed publications

1. Lučinskaitė I., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Laužikė K., Čėsna V. 2020. Biocheminių rodiklių ir antioksidacinio aktyvumo pokyčiai paprastosios eglės (Picea abies (L.). H. Karst.) spygliuose po poveikio fizikiniais stresoriais. Aplinkos apsaugos inžnerija / Environmental Protection Engineering, p. 33–38.
2. Kačiušis M., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Žemaitis P., Mildažienė V., Novickij V., Baliuckas V. 2019. The impact of physical effects interaction on change of secondary metabolites in Picea abies 9^th International Scientific Conference "RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy" (September 26–29, 2019, Vytautas Magnus University).
3. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V. 2017. Skirtingos temperatūros poveikis Pinus sylvestris L. morfofiziologiniams rodikliams veikiant kirtaviečių rūšių-dominantų ekstraktais. Miškininkystė, 1 (81).
4. Šėžienė V., Baležentienė L., Ozolinčius R. 2012. Allelopathic impact of some dominants in clean cuttings of Scots pine forest under climate change conditions. Ekologija, 58 (2): 59–64.
5. Šėžienė V., Baležentienė L., Maruška A. 2011. Total Phenolic Content in Extracts of Some Dominants in Pine Forest Cuttings. The Fifth International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2011: in global changes” (November 24–25, 2011, Lithuanian University of Agriculture).
6. Baležentienė L., Šėžienė V. 2009. Germination responses on phenols content of pine forest clear cuttings dominants. The Fourth International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2009 transitions towards sustainability” (October 15–17, 2009, Lithuanian University of Agriculture), 4 (2): 161–164.

Other publications

1. Lučinskaitė I., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Laužikė K., Čėsna V. 2020. Biocheminių rodiklių ir antioksidacinio aktyvumo pokyčiai paprastosios eglės (Picea abies (L). H. Karst.) spygliuose po poveikio fizikiniais stresoriais. Aplinkos apsaugos inžnerija / Environmental Protection Engineering, p. 33–38.
2. Kačiušis M., Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V., Žemaitis P., Mildažienė V., Novickij V., Baliuckas V. 2019. The impact of physical effects interaction on change of secondary metabolites in Picea abies 9^th International Scientific Conference "RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy" (September 26–29, 2019, Vytautas Magnus University).
3. Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė V. 2017. Skirtingos temperatūros poveikis Pinus sylvestris L. morfofiziologiniams rodikliams veikiant kirtaviečių rūšių-dominantų ekstraktais. Miškininkystė, 1 (81).
4. Šėžienė V., Baležentienė L., Ozolinčius R. 2012. Allelopathic impact of some dominants in clean cuttings of Scots pine forest under climate change conditions. Ekologija, 58 (2): 59–64.
5. Šėžienė V., Baležentienė L., Maruška A. 2011. Total Phenolic Content in Extracts of Some Dominants in Pine Forest Cuttings. The Fifth International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2011: in global changes” (November 24–25, 2011, Lithuanian University of Agriculture).
6. Baležentienė L., Šėžienė V. 2009. Germination responses on phenols content of pine forest clear cuttings dominants. The Fourth International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2009 transitions towards sustainability” (October 15–17, 2009, Lithuanian University of Agriculture), 4 (2): 161–164.

Monographs, books, textbooks and their sections published by national publishers

1. Aplinkosauginio švietimo fondo (FEE) vykdomos programos Lietuvoje. 2007. Aplinkosauginis švietimas / sudarė Šežienė V. ir kt. Kaunas, 118 p. ISBN 978-9955-9737-3-7

Popular press articles

1. Šėžienė V. 2016. Alelopatijos reikšmė miškininkystėje. Mūsų girios, 5 (817): 12–15.